Cynthia McKinney on War & Peace

Green Party nominee for President (Former Rep., D, GA-4)

Declares independence from Democratic Party and its war

McKinney announced her resignation from the Democratic Party on Mar. 17, 2007, at an anti-war rally in front of the Pentagon: “As an American of conscience, I hereby declare my independence from every bomb dropped, every threat leveled, every civil
liberties rollback, every child killed, every veteran maimed, every man tortured. And I sadly declare my independence from the leaders who let it happen,” McKinney said.

One of the US House votes in 2007 to authorise funding for the US occupation of
Iraq passed by only one vote, McKinney said during the interview. “Had I been there, it would have failed,” she noted, seeing as how her Democratic replacement in Congress, Rep.
Hank Johnson, voted to continue funding the war.

“The war party, which has two wings, Democratic and Republican--The Democratic wing counted their votes. They got rid of a sure ‘no’ vote and ensured war funding,” McKinney said.

Source: IPS News interview by Matthew Cardinale
Mar 22, 2008

Cut funding for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

Q: Briefly state your position on the following issue: Middle East Policy, including Iraq & Iran.

A: In 2006, I voted no on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. I consistently opposed every regular and supplemental appropriation
meant to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have participated in International War Crimes Tribunals (in Brussels, Spain and Malaysia) designed to bring to justice the Bush-Cheney administration.

Immediate withdrawal from Iraq & from rest of world

Q: What about Iraq?

A: We ought to demand an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. I voted for that while I was in Congress. But the problem is not just Iraq--the problem is the militaristic turn that our foreign policy has taken.
So I wouldn’t just say bring home the troops from Iraq, but bring home, period, from all over the world. Because the Congress is so powerful, We have to have people run for Congress on a peace agenda, a peace platform.

Introduced articles of impeachment at end of 2006 session

At the end of the 2006 legislative session, McKinney introduced articles of impeachment against President Bush, which makes three charges against Bush: manipulating intelligence and lying to justify the war in
Iraq, failing to uphold accountability and violating privacy laws with his domestic spying program.

The second article also makes charges against Vice President
Cheney for helping to “fix” the intelligence in order to justify the Iraq War, and against Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for making false statements concerning Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction program.

Because McKinney waited until the final day of voting before her term ended to introduce the resolution, the resolution was symbolic.

Source: Wikipedia article, “Cynthia McKinney”
Dec 21, 2007

Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date.

Voting YES would support the following resolution (excerpted):

Whereas the United States and its allies are engaged in a Global War on Terror, a long and demanding struggle against an adversary that is driven by hatred of American values and that is committed to imposing, by the use of terror, its repressive ideology throughout the world;

Whereas the terrorists have declared Iraq to be the central front in their war against all who oppose their ideology;

Whereas the United States and its Coalition partners will continue to support Iraq as part of the Global War on Terror:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

Honors all those Americans who have taken an active part in the Global War on Terror;

Declares that it is not in the national security interest of the United States to set an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq;

Declares that the United States is committed to the completion of
the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure, and united Iraq;

Declares that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the noble struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

Reference: Resolution on Prevailing in the Global War on Terror;
Bill HRES 861
; vote number 2006-288
on Jun 12, 2006

Voted YES on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo.

Vote on an amendment to the "Kosovo and Southwest Asia Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act" which would prohibit the use of funds for any invasion of Yugoslavia with U.S. ground forces except in time of war.

Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism.

McKinney co-sponsored the Resolution on bigotry against Sikh Americans:

Title: Condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans in the wake of terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

Summary: Declares that, in the quest to identify, locate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the civil rights and liberties of all Americans, including Sikh-Americans, should be protected.

Condemns bigotry and acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans, including Sikh-Americans.

Calls upon local and Federal law enforcement authorities to: (1) work to prevent hate crimes against all Americans; and (2) prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who commit hate crimes.